The old cliché that "time flies" really does hold true. Balancing coursework, jobs, extracurricular activities, a social life ... how can it even be possible to get everything done and still have time to sleep? Sure, you could do the age-old trick of micromanaging every moment of your life, but then what happens when plans go awry? Where's the wiggle room for spontaneity? I'm going to teach you the top ways to at least feel productive, without causing any extra, unnecessary stress.
1. Keep a to-do list
I know I just mentioned not to micromanage, but this isn't quite as strict. This is simply laying out the tasks that you must accomplish in a certain time-frame. If you're like me, someone who likes to take life day by day, I recommend having either a daily or weekly to-do list. That way, the number of items on your list won't become so numerous that it's overwhelming. And the nice thing about to-do lists is that you'll feel a twinge of accomplishment every time you get to cross off one of your items. If you want to get a bit fancy with your to-do list-making skills, maybe experiment with a bullet journal. A bullet journal is basically a to-do list on steroids. Check out the video below to learn how to start your own!
2. Have a set morning and nighttime routine
Routines are a great way to feel productive and accomplish daily tasks. Of course, finding a balance between having structured routines and free time can be a bit tricky. Too much routine could make you feel like you're stuck in a rut. Too much free time could result in watching Netflix for hours while nothing actually gets done.
A great way to have a bit of routine but not too much routine is to schedule your morning wake-up time and the time just before you go to bed. Writing up your to-do list for the following day is a great task for your nightly routine. (You can even do it while lying in bed.) Picking out your clothes for the following day is also a great way to decrease the amount of time it takes to go through your morning routine — you won't have to worry about scrambling to find something to wear if you ever sleep through your alarm. As for an idea for your morning routine, making your bed is fantastic to do. Not only will it make you feel like you have your life together, you'll thank yourself later when you get to crawl into a freshly made bed at night.
3. Break down small tasks into little ones
One of the leading causes of procrastination is feeling overwhelmed by a task. Sometimes, certain homework assignments or tasks at work can be a bit too much to swallow all at once. So, it's best to break it down into multiple little steps, and then complete those little steps one at a time. Say you have a 10-page essay due in seven days. The first day could be devoted to compiling your research or quotes for your essay. The second day could be for writing an outline so you'll have a general idea of how you're going to tackle your essay. Now, you only have to write two pages a day, minimum! That's way better than waiting until the night before and completely stressing out.
4. The five-minute rule
This is my own little homework hack. I've always found that the worst part about doing an assignment is actually starting it. Building up the motivation to start homework usually takes more time than actually doing it. So, when you're ready to start tackling a dreaded assignment, sit down and work on it for just five minutes. That's not so bad, right? Just five minutes. Chances are, once you actually start the assignment, five minutes will fly by without you even noticing, and you'll have enough motivated momentum to keep going. Once those initial five minutes have passed, try working for another five minutes. And then another. As long as you can work for five minutes, you can get through any assignment!
If you follow these four simple tips, you'll feel way more productive than before, all without feeling an undue amount of stress. Happy working!
